Hertford College News Issue 12 Spring/Summer 2005
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Hertford College News Issue 12 Spring/Summer 2005 Feature: Hertford Students in Japan Roy Stuart dies p.10 Arson attack on boathouse p.5 Recent Old Member Publications Boudica and The Man in the Iron Mask p.11 Principal’s Column ONE of the idiosyncrasies of University life is that its annual cycle is so out of kilter with the natural seasons. By the time this column reaches you the trees will be turning brown here in Oxford, but the academic garden will be sprout- ing green shoots as we prepare to wel- come a new generation of Freshers. This annual event has special significance for me this year since - thirty years after leaving Hertford as a new graduate - I find myself once more a Fresher here, albeit a Fresher residing in the Principal’s Lodgings rather than O.B.5. Much has changed in thirty years. Simpkins is comfortably settled into his third life, and the College boasts a third quadrangle, on Holywell Street, as well as substantial accommodation away from the main site. Its finances are on a much sounder footing than they once were. Much, though, remains the same – the spirit of innovation that led Hertford to seek excellence in candi- dates regardless of social background, and placed it in the first group of under- graduate Colleges to go mixed, still thrives. We now lead the way in the generation of income from English lan- guage teaching and other foreign pro- grammes as the traditional sources of higher education funding become increasingly problematic. One thing that has certainly not changed is our commitment to academ- ic excellence, and this year’s Final Honour School results were our best yet. Hertford men and women gained 33 firsts and 69 upper seconds, out of 111 results – an achievement bearing wit- Lecturership at the end of her current than actually vertical! This year’s ness to phenomenal talent and sheer British Academy Postdoctoral Research excellent Schools results are a fitting hard work for which many congratula- Fellowship. In addition, we are delight- tribute to Sir Walter’s sterling service to tions are due to all concerned! ed that our Supernumerary Fellow, Dr. the College throughout his Claire Vallance, has been elected to Principalship, and we all extend our The state of the College’s facilities, Keith McLauchlan’s University warmest good wishes to him for what is its finances and, above all, its academic Lecturership in Physical Chemistry and certain to be a very active retirement. standing give us grounds for confidence will succeed him as Tutorial Fellow in – though certainly not complacency – as Theoretical and Physical Chemistry. to the future, but Hertford’s true strength lies in its people, and I will not be the “Hertford,” the late and much-missed only SCR Fresher this year. We are Rev. Chantry was fond of saying, “is a pleased to welcome three new Fellows small, friendly College”. Thirty years (to be profiled in full in the next edi- later the College is no longer as small as tion): Dr. David Hopkin comes to us it was, but it is every bit as friendly; my from Glasgow in place of Geoffrey Ellis wife and I have been deeply touched by as Tutor and CUF Lecturer in History; the warmth of the welcome extended to Dr. Peter Millican from Leeds succeeds us on all sides and the lengths to which Gonzalo Rodriguez-Pereyra as everyone has gone to make us feel at Philosophy Tutor and CUF, and we wel- home. I am particularly grateful to my Dr John Landers come Dr. Katherine Lunn-Rockliffe predecessor, Sir Walter Bodmer, for all Principal (1992, Modern Languages), currently at his help in ensuring as smooth a transi- St. Anne’s, as Tutorial Fellow in French. tion as possible and putting me on a Katherine will assume a Faculty learning curve that is merely steep rather 2 Development News The Development Office Team Susan Griffin as Assistant Librarian. Nichola is responsible for organising college events and newsletter content. She can YVONNE Rainey, Director of Development, has been joined be contacted on tel: 01865 279428; email: nichola.reid@hert- by two new members of staff in the Development Office. ford.ox.ac.uk. Joanne Munt joined in May and has recently arrived in the UK from Adelaide, Australia. Jo brings many skills with her, she is an IT expert and has responsibility for the database, website and production of publications. Jo has a first class law degree from the University of Adelaide and a Masters in Law from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. She practised briefly as a solicitor and then as a lecturer before working for a theatre company. Jo can be contacted on tel: 01865 279428; email: [email protected]. Nichola Reid joined at the beginning of June as the Events Officer. She has moved across the quad from Hertford’s Library where she spent seven happy years working with Yvonne Rainey Jo Munt Nichola Reid Hertford College Introduces Rowing Bursaries In Memoriam gifts for book conservation AS a result of a generous donation from an Old Member, SUSAN Griffin’s account of conservation work on the Terry Hughes (1982, Physics) and his wife Maria, the College College library’s older books (in the last issue of this newslet- has introduced a scheme of sponsored bursaries to support ter) brought a donation of £1,500, earmarked for this purpose, rowing at the College. The bursaries, available to up to two from an Old Member who came up in 1946. students a year, are designed to allow the students to devote His generosity, which will cover appropriate treatment for time to rowing as well as achieving their potential in academ- several books, will inaugurate an In Memoriam scheme, ic studies, by relieving them of the need to do paid jobs dur- whereby gifts for library conservation, to honour the memory ing vacations and allowing them to plan effectively for both of a friend, relative, or colleague, will be recorded in a book academic revision and sporting training. of remembrance. The bursaries will be awarded on the basis of competitive applications, and would be made to students who promote rowing at Hertford while maintaining satisfactory academic progress. The awards, usually £1,000, would be for one year with possible renewal for a second year, and will generally be Hertford Purchases North Oxford Houses made at the end of the student’s first year, so that students’ commitment to rowing through performance or coaching, and AS part of Hertford’s commitment to providing quality their academic progress, can be assessed. They will be open accommodation for all its students, the College has purchased to both undergraduate and graduate students. numbers 8, 9 and 10 Winchester Road (see the photo below) Hertford’s men’s 1st VIII gained their highest position in and numbers 57 and 59 Banbury Road. All five houses had Summer Eights for over a century in 2004, and in recent years previously been leased from the University for the last twenty both men and women, have been amongst the fastest years. As the properties back on to each other, there are sev- Oxbridge crews in the Head of the River Race as well as eral possibilities for development of this site. competing at Henley. The College has also purchased another house on the Abingdon Road, which will provide accommodation for a fur- ther six students. Cover photo: The corner of NB quad taken by Greg Jennings Hertford College News is published by the Members and Development Office for Members and friends of the College. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily the official views of Hertford College. Editor: Yvonne Rainey Technical Assistant: Jo Munt Printed by Alden Press, Oxford Members and Development Office Hertford College, Oxford OX1 3BW, UK Tel: + 44 (0)1865 279428; Fax: + 44 (0)1865 289142 E-mail: [email protected] Hertford College is an exempt charity. Inland Revenue Number XN4052 Student accommodation at 8, 9 and 10 Winchester Road 3 College News End of an Era! Pam Horwood, Lodge Porter, Retires PAM began working as a part-time lodge porter under Judy Mullee in 1983. She has very fond memories and many stories to tell. One story from twenty years ago is of her budgie Joey and how he came to be. A budgie had flown into undergrad- uate Chris Barber's room who immedi- ately rang Pam to tell her. Pam went over to rescue both the bird and the stu- dent who later admitted he didn't like and was allergic to birds. On arriving Pam found Chris feeding the budgie Pam enjoyed a farewell party in the Old Hall. cornflakes. Further help came in the shape of a Sainsbury's shopping basket adds: “When six o'clock came the and windows in the lodge had to be which was soon transformed into a bird phones went mad and you couldn't see kept shut at all times which wasn't very cage with the assistance of undergradu- the pin up board for messages, I was so easy with students and staff coming and ate Richard Hughes. Pam went on to pleased when students had phones going. “Little kittens want to explore.” keep Joey for many years. installed in their rooms let alone email Pam enjoyed meeting people and Pam remembers the days before and mobiles”. became friends with students, staff and mobiles and e-mails and how she would Pam and Judy between them man- Fellows - not to mention delivery driv- take messages from parents and friends aged to kitty train two Simpkins in the ers and tourists! We will all miss Pam of students on message pads and pin lodge.